“RENEW is the model for UB’s “Communities of Excellence” initiative — under the UB 2020 strategic plan — which brings together researchers from across the university to address society’s toughest challenges and carry out transformative educational, research, creative and community engagement activities.”

These seemingly disparate activities are not disparate at all
— in fact, they reflect a commitment to comprehensive
environmental research at RENEW, UB’s new interdisciplinary
research initiative.

RENEW (Research and Education in eNergy, Environment and Water)
promises to tackle the most difficult and pressing issues that
society faces in trying to create a more sustainable world.

The institute is engaging more than 100 faculty members from
across six university schools and colleges who specialize in fields
like environmental engineering, chemistry, geology, law,
architecture, community health and sustainable business
practices.

UB has dedicated up to $15 million over the next five years,
with a goal to hire 20 new faculty members who have expertise in
aquatic ecology, pollution law, renewable energy, behavioral
economics, environmental planning, community health and other
areas. UB also will create new academic programs and hire a
world-class scholar and researcher to direct the institute. A
search for the director is underway.

RENEW is the model for UB’s “Communities of
Excellence” initiative — under the UB 2020 strategic
plan — which brings together researchers from across the
university to address society’s toughest challenges and carry
out transformative educational, research, creative and community
engagement activities.

Here’s a closer look at some of the research happening
within RENEW:

Sustainable buildings

Mention the word “architecture” and most people
think about how a building looks. Not Martha Bohm. Bohm, assistant
professor of architecture, is equally interested in how a building
“acts”; for example, how much energy and water it
consumes and how it uses materials and creates waste. Bohm’s
research and teaching centers on developing buildings and
communities that have minimal environmental impacts. She and other
faculty members, including some RENEW researchers, are advising a
group of students who are building a solar-powered house to compete
in the U.S. Department of Energy’s elite Solar Decathlon
competition.

‘Smart’ windows

Nearly 40 percent of the energy consumed in the United States
occurs in commercial and residential buildings, according to the
U.S. Energy Information Administration. Sarbajit Banerjee,
associate professor of chemistry, is working to lower that number
by developing a vanadium oxide window coating that reflects the
sun’s heat during hot days and lets in the heat during colder
weather. The coating also could be useful in computer chips,
night-vision instruments and missile-guidance systems.

Pesticides

Pesticides prevent diseases from spreading, protect crops and
help control invasive species. But their widespread use causes
damage to the environment and human health. James R. Olson, UB
Distinguished Professor in the School of Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences, as well as the School of Public Health and Health
Professions, investigates how environmental and occupational
exposure to pesticides, especially organophosphate pesticides,
affects human health. Supporters of his research include the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. Berat Z. Haznedaroglu also is
studying the nutritional capacity of certain algae species, as well
as their suitability to be used as a biofuel feedstock. Photo:
Douglas Levere

Water quality

Massive algae blooms in Lake Erie and elsewhere threaten
fisheries, tourism and drinking water. Berat Z. Haznedaroglu,
assistant professor of environmental engineering, and his students
are working to fix the problem in Lake Erie by developing
biological control mechanisms against harmful algae blooms that
limit the occurrence of toxic compounds. Additionally, Haznedaroglu
studies the nutritional capacity of certain algae species, as well
as their suitability to be used as a biofuel feedstock. He also
conducts research into food sustainability and safety; for example,
he studies how pathogens like salmonella behave in water and soil
matrices.

Land conservation

Land conservation agreements generally are written with
today’s landscape in mind. But what happens when climate
change alters the land? Jessica Owley, associate professor of law,
examines these issues and develops plans that help conservationists
adapt to change in ways that will continue to yield environmental
benefits. Additionally, Owley spearheads a project called
Environmental Law Collaborative that has gathered legal academics
nationwide to discuss environmental issues, including land
conservation.

Consumer behavior

Some consumers buy hybrid cars because of the environmental
benefits. Others view it more as an economic decision —
improved gas mileage, tax rebates, etc. Debabrata
“Debu” Talukdar, professor of marketing, studies these
scenarios on micro- and macroeconomic levels. He’s
particularly interested in how economic policies help or hinder
sustainable economic development through their impacts on consumer
and industry behavior. His research has been cited by scholars who
work in economics, environmental policy, public health, law,
management science and other fields.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles
that will explore how RENEW researchers are tackling complex
environmental issues.